VALDOSTA — A Valdosta woman could see the ground through the floor in her home. When it rained, the water would fall through the house on her. Her house was condemned, and she had nowhere to go.

A representative of the city’s Community Development Department called Administrator Shelby Wright at Sands Horizon to see if the woman could live in one of the independent living apartments for low-income seniors 62 and older. The woman no longer had to worry about a roof over her head, a place to lie down in safety at night.

The late Alice Sands would more than likely be proud of the open house held May 16 for Phase II of Sands Horizon. The 22-acre property at 1195 Old Statenville Road was named in honor of Sands, grandmother of Dr. Henry E. Wright II, president and CEO of Valdosta Deliverance Evangelistic Center (Evangel Temple Church), which owns the property.

“My grandmother was in a nursing home, and I had such a compassion for the elderly, and because of the bad housing for the elderly in Valdosta,” said Wright, citing his reasons for beginning the HUD-subsidized project. 

Wright’s wife, Shelby, pointed to a five-year study commissioned by the City of Valdosta, which revealed in 2004 that 900 elderly, low-income people were in need of affordable housing.

The 30-unit Phase One of Sands Horizon has been in operation for three years. Phase Two opened last fall on Sept. 24, 2009, and 18 of the 30 units are already filled.

Requirements for living at Sands Horizon are age 62 and up with an income of no more than $17,200 for an individual or $19,700 for a couple.

“They pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross income,” Shelby said.

The foyer and common room of Phase Two are inviting and tastefully decorated with plush furniture. Badcock Home Furniture & More furnished a model apartment for free. Each apartment is 540 square feet with a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom with a medicine cabinet. Utilities are furnished while residents pay for cable and telephone.

There’s lots of seating in the common room which has a flat-screen TV and computer room and opens to a large back porch with a gas grill.

“We are planning to have cook-outs,” Shelby said.

Laundry rooms with four coin-operated machines, a sink and folding counter are located at each end of the building, which is more than 22,000 square feet.

Part-time staff at Sands Horizon are Leisa Glover, occupancy clerk, and Tanika Christopher, accounting clerk. The Wrights are looking for a resident manager who has a high school diploma, some managerial experience and doesn’t smoke. (No smoking is allowed in the building). The manager would be given a two-bedroom apartment at no cost with utilities furnished. The couple said while there is no pay at the present, the manager could hold a day job and just be responsible for the residents from 5 p.m. until the next morning at 7:30 a.m.

All residents take care of themselves, but there are two apartments in both buildings which accommodate the handicapped. The ceiling fan is at a lower level as well as stove knobs are in front.

“We do have people who use wheelchairs and Scooters,” said Shelby, a Registered Nurse for 30 years.

Each morning residents put out a sign saying “I’m OK,” and their names are checked off a list, Shelby said.

Safety issues are addressed by having an individual code for each resident to enter the building as well as his or her own key for his/her apartment.

“We interview each person who comes in, and we do background checks,” Shelby said.

During the month, residents are entertained by bingo, arts and crafts, and health seminars, including ones from Hospice and Hogan’s Pharmacy.

Beverly Simmons, a Sands Horizon resident for the past five months, formerly ran a private boarding home for the elderly in Pennsylvania. When she retired, she moved to Valdosta to be closer to her daughter, Twilah Flack. 

“I love it,” Simmons said of her new residence. “You couldn’t ask for a nicer place. There isn’t anything I haven’t liked about it.”